RALEIGH – Parents of two daughters, Hiram and Teresa Ruiz already had a lot to be thankful for before Tuesday’s Carolina Cash 5 drawing. After their lucky ticket matched all five numbers, the Wake Forest couple can add to the list a $344,501 jackpot.

“It’s just an awesome feeling,” Teresa said. “It’s exciting.”

The good luck began after Teresa bought a $5 Quick Pick ticket yesterday at the OHM Quick Shop on Capital Boulevard in Wake Forest. This morning, her curiosity turned quickly to excitement when she checked the winning numbers on the lottery’s website – and saw that her ticket matched all five.

“I gasped,” Teresa recalled. “Come look at these numbers!” she said to her husband.

They wasted no time coming to lottery headquarters to claim their prize money on Wednesday, the day before the holiday season officially begins.

“It’s like a dream,” Hiram said. “It’s going to be a nice Christmas this year.”

The Ruiz’s said that their after-tax winnings of $238,395 would allow them to pay some bills – and go shopping.

Ticket sales have made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $3.5 billion for the state. Lottery proceeds will be used this year to help pay salaries of teachers and teacher assistants, for pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, school construction and repair, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.

For details on how more than $233.6 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Wake County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.